Optical compensation device, liquid crystal display unit, and projection display apparatus

Abstract

This liquid crystal display unit includes a pair of polarizers, a liquid crystal display device provided between the pair of polarizers, and an optical compensation device provided between, of the pair of polarizers, at least one polarizer and the liquid crystal display device. The optical compensation device includes an underlayer including a plurality of structures that each include first and second surfaces having different inclination angles from each other, and a multilayered film formed on the underlayer and including a plurality of first and second refractive index films that are alternately stacked one on top of another repeatedly. An array pitch of the plurality of structures in the underlayer is smaller than a wavelength of visible light.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid crystal display unit, comprising:
 a pair of polarizers; 
 a liquid crystal display device provided between the pair of polarizers; and 
 an optical compensation device provided between, of the pair of polarizers, at least one polarizer and the liquid crystal display device, wherein 
 the optical compensation device includes:
 an underlayer including a plurality of structures that each include a first surface and a second surface having different inclination angles from each other, and 
 a multilayered film formed on the underlayer and including a plurality of first refractive index films and a plurality of second refractive index films that are alternately stacked one on top of another repeatedly, and 
 
 an array pitch of the plurality of structures in the underlayer is smaller than a wavelength of visible light. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a film thickness of the multilayered film differs between a region facing the first surface and a region facing the second surface. 
     
     
       3. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the array pitch of the plurality of structures is 380 nm or less. 
     
     
       4. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the array pitch of the plurality of structures is 300 nm or less. 
     
     
       5. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the array pitch of the plurality of structures is 250 nm or less. 
     
     
       6. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid crystal display device is sealed between a pair of substrates, and includes a liquid crystal layer between a pair of electrodes, and 
 the optical compensation device is provided between one of the pair of substrates and one of the pair of polarizers. 
 
     
     
       7. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid crystal display device is sealed between a pair of substrates, and includes a liquid crystal layer between a pair of electrodes, and 
 the optical compensation device is provided between one of the pair of substrates and one of the pair of electrodes. 
 
     
     
       8. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the optical compensation device further includes a planarizing layer between the multilayered film and the one of the pair of electrodes. 
     
     
       9. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer including a vertical alignment type liquid crystal molecule, and 
 a direction of an optical axis of the optical compensation device is set along a pretilt direction of the vertical alignment type liquid crystal molecule. 
 
     
     
       10. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the optical compensation device further includes a plurality of regions that differ in the direction of the optical axis from one another. 
     
     
       11. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the underlayer has a serrated cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       12. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures each have a polyhedron including the first surface and the second surface or a curved surface. 
     
     
       13. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate on which the underlayer is formed,
 wherein the underlayer further includes, of constituent materials of the plurality of first refractive index films and the plurality of second refractive index films, a material having high adhesion to the substrate. 
 
     
     
       14. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a film thickness ratio of the plurality of first refractive index films and the plurality of second refractive index films is 1:1. 
     
     
       15. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first refractive index films and the plurality of second refractive index films each include an inorganic insulating material. 
     
     
       16. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of first refractive index films and the plurality of second refractive index films each include any of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride. 
     
     
       17. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal display unit is a transmissive liquid crystal display unit. 
     
     
       18. The liquid crystal display unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal display unit is a reflective liquid crystal display unit. 
     
     
       19. A projection display apparatus provided with a liquid crystal display unit, the liquid crystal display unit comprising:
 a pair of polarizers; 
 a liquid crystal display device provided between the pair of polarizers; and 
 an optical compensation device provided between, of the pair of polarizers, at least one polarizer and the liquid crystal display device, wherein 
 the optical compensation device includes:
 an underlayer including a plurality of structures that each include a first surface and a second surface having different inclination angles from each other, and 
 a multilayered film formed on the underlayer and including a plurality of first refractive index films and a plurality of second refractive index films that are alternately stacked one on top of another repeatedly, and 
 
 an array pitch of the plurality of structures in the underlayer is smaller than a wavelength of visible light. 
 
     
     
       20. An optical compensation device comprising:
 an underlayer including a plurality of structures that each include a first surface and a second surface having different inclination angles from each other; and 
 a multilayered film formed on the underlayer and including a plurality of first refractive index films and a plurality of second refractive index films that are alternately stacked one on top of another repeatedly, 
 wherein an array pitch of the plurality of structures in the underlayer is smaller than a wavelength of visible light.